Ronaldo Veirano is the founding partner of Veirano Advogados and is a highly regarded legal expert, recognized internationally for his statesmanship, facility with sophisticated legal issues and significant network of global contacts. Over the years, clients have sought his advice on a myriad of issues surrounding corporate law and operating in Brazil. He has served as an advisor to numerous corporations and their boards, along with governments and their officials from across the globe. An erudite and accomplished speaker, Mr. Veirano is frequently invited to address international audiences on a variety of complex legal subjects, trade issues and other topics that affect companies, countries and their growth.
In 1972, while a partner with U.S. law firm Baker & McKenzie, Mr. Veirano opened the firm’s Rio de Janeiro office. A true visionary, he predicted the impending changes to the Brazilian legal landscape and the opportunity for Brazil to become a significant player in international arena and, in 1996, formed Veirano Advogados. His goal was to establish a Brazilian firm that was built on deep legal knowledge, combined with superior client service, to serve the needs of Brazilian companies and international corporations that also recognized the crucial role Brazil would play in the world economy. Today, Veirano Advogados is considered among the leading law firms in Brazil with more than 270 attorneys across the country. Clients, peers and the media frequently recognize the Firm, and its attorneys for their significant accomplishments including selection by Chambers & Partners in 2010 for the first Latin American Client Service Award.
A recognized leader in Brazil and globally, Mr. Veirano has been actively involved in efforts to advance the development of business between Brazil and other countries. In 2000, he was appointed as Honorary Consul of Australia for Rio de Janeiro and has actively promoted business between the two countries. In recognition of his continued service and success, the Governor-General of Australia appointed Mr. Veirano as an Honorary Member of the General Division of the Order of Australia in 2009.
In early 2008, Mr. Veirano was nominated by the Brazilian Government to join the prestigious Fulbright Commission, which grants scholarships to Brazilian students to study, lecture or conduct research in the United States. In addition, the Brazilian government awarded Mr. Veirano with the Order of Rio Branco in the rank of Commander. The Order of Rio Branco was created in 1963 to recognize and celebrate the merits of Brazilian and foreign individuals who have significantly contributed to the promotion of Brazil's relations with the world. In 2008, he was honored by the Legislative Assembly of Rio de Janeiro and was awarded the venerated Tiradentes Medal, given for service to the City.
Mr. Veirano is a member of several national and international associations and plays a role in top management of several of these organizations. He is currently a member of the Executive Committee of the Brazil-United States Business Council – Brazilian Section; Brazil-China Business Council; Coordinator of the Governance and Nominating Committee of the Brazilian Corporate Governance Institute (IBGC) – of which he is one of the founding members, Board of Directors of UMOE Bioenergy ASA and member of the Advisory Board of the Brazil Institute of the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington, DC. Mr. Veirano is also the Chairman Emeritus of World Services Group, a global network of leading law firms and other professional services providers.
Early career highlights for Mr. Veirano include five years (1966-1971) as an in-house attorney with the Kendall Company in Boston, Massachusetts where he focused on international affairs. This formative experience early in his career gave him a rare Insight into the challenges faced by in-house counsel and he has continued to utilize this knowledge to build the strong firm that Veirano Advogados is today.
Professional Associations and Memberships
• American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM), Rio de Janeiro, board member and former chair
• American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM), São Paulo, board member
• American Club, Rio de Janeiro, former chair
• Brazil-Florida Business Council, Inc. (BFBC), Advisory Board Member
• Brazilian-Swedish Chamber of Commerce, advisory board member
• Brazilian Center for International Relations (CEBRI), board member
• British Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Brazil (BRITCHAM), former chair
• Gávea Golf Country Club, former board member and chair (8 years consecutively)
• German-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (AHK)
• International Bar Association (IBA), Law Firm Management Committee, senior co-chair
• Inter-Pacific Bar Association, International Trade Committee, co-chair
• World Services Group (WSG), chairman emeritus
Articles and Publications
• “Regulatory Framework in the Port Sector: A Risk of Kickbacks,” American Chamber of Commerce Annual Yearbook 2010
• “Looking Ahead,” Marcasur, June 2009
• “Protecting Visual Identity Efforts,” Propriedade e Ética, August, 2008
Speeches and Presentations
• Private Mergers & Acquisitions/Global Trends in Buyer Protection, New York State Bar Association, Lisbon, October 2012
• Green Growth, Food Security and Education Research, roundtable presentation, Global Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, June 2012
• Opportunities and Challenges in Latin America's Largest Economy, New York City Bar Association, NY, NY, April 2012
• Opportunities and Challenges for Investment in Brazil, Japan Bank for International Cooperation, Tokyo, November 2011
• Opportunities and Challenges for Investment in Brazil, Brazilian Embassy, Tokyo, November 2011
• Why Have National Bar Association Rules and Regulations?, International Bar Association (IBA) Annual Conference, Dubai, November 2011
• Developing the International Lawyer, International Bar Association (IBA) Annual Conference, Dubai, November 2011
• Private Mergers and Acquisitions – Local Implementation of International Practices, New York Bar Association, Panama, September 2011
• Legal Aspects – Business in Brazil, Consulate General of the United States, Rio de Janeiro, August 2011
• Looking for Opportunities Between Brazil and the Lombardy Region, Federation of Industries of Rio de Janeiro (FIRJAN), Rio de Janeiro, July 2011
• Law Firm Sustainable Growth and Quality Management, Fenelaw Congress, Rio de Janeiro, June 2010
• Brazilian Investments in Africa: Political Issues, Economic and Legal Issues, FIRJAN, Rio de Janeiro, April 2011
• New Challenges for Inter-American Corporate Counsel - Recent Legal and Tax Developments in Brazil, México, Chile and Argentina: Pros and Cons and What to Expect in This New Year, University of Miami School of Law, Miami, FL, April 2011
• How to Do Business in Brazil, Norwegian-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, Rio de Janeiro, February 2011
• Doing Business in Brazil, The Economist (webinar), Brazil, December 2010
• Overview on Economic, Legal and Political Aspects of Doing Business and Investing in Brazil and Sector Opportunities, Australia-Brazil Chamber of Commerce, Sydney, October 2010
• Infrastructure, The 2nd Latin America-China Investors Forum, Beijing, September 2010
• Latest Legal Developments and Investment Opportunities in Brazil, Swiss-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, Zurich, September 2010
Bar Associations
• Brazilian Bar Association (OAB) – Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo
• Illinois State Bar, United States (currently inactive)
• Portuguese Bar Association
Education
• J.D., Suffolk University Law School, Boston, Massachusetts, 1971
• LL.B, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), 1963
Honors and Accolades
• Chambers & Partners – Latin American Lifetime Achievement Award -- 2012
• Chambers & Partners – Client Service Award -- 2010
• PLC Which Lawyer - Corporate / M&A -- 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
• Who's Who Legal Brazil - Corporate Governance -- 2010, 2011, 2012
• Best Lawyers -- Corporate / M&A -- 2009
Languages
Portuguese, English and Spanish.